Pubs, hotels, museums in Britain to reopen as virus blockade eases


Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street, London, as he resumes his job after spending two weeks recovering from Covid-19.

Stefan Rousseau | PA Images via Getty Images

Pubs, restaurants, hotels, museums and a variety of other nonessential companies in the UK will reopen on July 4 amid further easing of coronavirus blocking restrictions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Tuesday.

Also among the places that will be allowed to open are libraries, places of worship, hostels, cinemas, cafes and office cafes, hairdressers and barber shops, outdoor gyms and playgrounds, bars, theme parks, outdoor leisure centers, social clubs and the community. centers, indoor attractions in aquariums and wildlife centers, and concert halls and galleries.

“Today we can say that our long national hibernation is beginning to end and life is beginning to return to our streets and shops,” Johnson told Parliament.

Social distancing is still recommended, but people can now meet more family and friends than before, with a recommendation of 1 meter (3.2 feet) of social distance where it is not possible to be 2 meters away. Weddings can take place with up to 30 attendees.

The government’s advice for indoor gatherings is that one home can meet another home at the same time, maintaining social distance. In food and hospitality venues, customers can only be served at their tables, and their contact details must be taken in advance.

However, “close proximity” places like nightclubs will remain closed.

“As we begin to reopen the economy, it is important that we do not increase the risk of transmission, so ‘close proximity’ locations such as nightclubs, soft play areas, indoor gyms, swimming pools, water parks, bowling alleys and spas will have it will remain closed for now, “said a statement from the prime minister’s office. “The government continues to work with these sectors to establish working groups to help them be safe from Covid and reopen as soon as possible.”

“The number of new infections is now decreasing by 2 to 4% every day,” Johnson told Parliament, describing the reopens as enabled by a reduced rate of new infections. He added that he did not see a substantial risk of a second wave of the virus.

“This pandemic has caused permanent scarring and we regret all those who have lost … While we are vigilant, we do not believe that there is currently a risk of a second spike of infections that may overwhelm the NHS,” he said, referring to the National Service of Country health.

The United Kingdom is one of the countries most affected by the coronavirus in the world, with more than 300,000 confirmed cases and at least 42,730 deaths, the fifth highest and the third highest in the world, respectively.

The measures only apply to England, and Johnson acknowledges that the other nations of the United Kingdom, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will adopt their own approaches.

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